Reference no: EM132165162

You are a member of a special committee of district managers at a large pharmaceutical company. Your committee will be meeting virtually to discuss some problems.

1. Each committee member will review the problem; post what they believe is the best solution; and, include a rationale for your answer (1 paragraph).

2. Each committee member will respond to two other postings that they believe are reasonable resolutions to the problem. Postings should be one paragraph and include the following content:

o why you agree with the committee member’s solution

o potential problems if the solution were implemented

Here is the problem for your committee to consider:

The company has no specific policy regarding facial hair. Tom, a pharmaceutical sales rep with a little more than a year’s experience and an average (but declining) sales record, has grown a very long and ragged beard that detracts significantly from his appearance. His hobby is playing bass in an amateur bluegrass band, and he feels that a ragged beard is an important part of the act. Tom says his beard is a personal fashion statement that has to do with his individual freedom.

There have been numerous complaints about Tom’s appearance from both doctors and pharmacists. The manager has talked to him on many occasions about the impact his appearance could have on his sales. Nevertheless, Tom still has the beard.

The manager is concerned about Tom’s decreasing sales as well as the professional image of the sales force in the medical community. Tom says his sales decrease has nothing to do with his beard. However, sales in the other territories in the district are significantly better than they were last year.